From 1997-May 2012, this program utilized trail data from the 1995 edition of the California PCT Guidebook and the 1990 edition of the Oregon/Washington PCT guidebook.
This planning program now uses data from the 2005 edition of the PCT Data Book. The Data Book derives its data points from the 2003 edition of the California PCT Guidebook and the 2000 edition of the Oregon/Washington PCT guidebook. Below are comparisons between the older and the newer data. See note below about the 2004 Oregon/Washington guidebook.
Important: Existing hiking plans are now using the updated data. The distance differences are not significant and at most (in one instance) would add another 2-3 hours hiking time for an entire trail section.
Furthermore, there is alternate (and more up to date) trail distance data available via Halfmile's Trail Notes. In the Spring of 2012 I set out to use Halfmile's Trail data for the program as it is more up to date and accurate (especially concerning detours/etc). I was unable to use this data due to the trail elevation points being GPS-derived. GPS elevations tend to be a little bit off when the trail goes up or down steeply. This caused the PCT to have an excessive amount of elevation gain that threw off the planner calculations too much. I would still strongly recommend the use of his trail notes so you can make manual adjustments to your plan as needed.
Since I had the distance data available however, I included a table below of the section differences between the data this planner currently uses and Halfmile's PCT data (3/26/2012 revision).
Note:
I did attempt to update the distance/elevation data to that of 2004 edition of the OR/WA PCT guidebook, but did not include any distance changes for several reasons. The biggest reason I didn't include the changes was because the summary data for each section in the 2004 OR/WA guidebook didn't always match the data point values when added up. I couldn't be sure if these were typos or not, so I chose to just not make any changes. If a discrepancy did exist, it was less than a mile for a total trail section. The only exception was Section A of Oregon (Seiad Valley to I-5). This section is 2.4 miles longer (than what this planner states) if you go by the 1990 and 2004 OR/WA guidebooks.
Current Program Data vs Old Program Data
(2003/2000 guidebooks vs 1995/1990 guidebooks)
| US/Mexico Border to Mt. Laguna | ||
| 2003 CA / 2000 ORWA Guidebooks: | 42.3mi | 5570ft |
| 1995 CA / 1990 ORWA Guidebooks: | 42.2mi | 5475ft |
| difference: | 0.1mi | 95ft |
| Mt. Laguna to Idyllwild | ||
| 2003 CA / 2000 ORWA Guidebooks: | 136.3mi | 13778ft |
| 1995 CA / 1990 ORWA Guidebooks: | 138.0mi | 13721ft |
| difference: | -1.7mi | 57ft |
| Idyllwild to Wrightwood | ||
| 2003 CA / 2000 ORWA Guidebooks: | 185.0mi | 20397ft |
| 1995 CA / 1990 ORWA Guidebooks: | 184.1mi | 20397ft |
| difference: | 0.9mi | 0ft |
| Wrightwood to Acton | ||
| 2003 CA / 2000 ORWA Guidebooks: | 80.6mi | 9233ft |
| 1995 CA / 1990 ORWA Guidebooks: | 79.3mi | 9013ft |
| difference: | 1.3mi | 220ft |
| Acton to Agua Dulce | ||
| 2003 CA / 2000 ORWA Guidebooks: | 10.2mi | 1382ft |
| 1995 CA / 1990 ORWA Guidebooks: | 9.2mi | 1240ft |
| difference: | 1.0mi | 142ft |
| Agua Dulce to Highway 58 (California) | ||
| 2003 CA / 2000 ORWA Guidebooks: | 112.2mi | 12128ft |
| 1995 CA / 1990 ORWA Guidebooks: | 108.8mi | 12128ft |
| difference: | 3.4mi | 0ft |
| Highway 58 (California) to Kennedy Meadows Store | ||
| 2003 CA / 2000 ORWA Guidebooks: | 136.2mi | 15310ft |
| 1995 CA / 1990 ORWA Guidebooks: | 131.4mi | 15310ft |
| difference: | 4.8mi | 0ft |
| Kennedy Meadows Store to Lone Pine | ||
| 2003 CA / 2000 ORWA Guidebooks: | 42.0mi | 7512ft |
| 1995 CA / 1990 ORWA Guidebooks: | 42.0mi | 7512ft |
| difference: | 0.0mi | 0ft |
| Lone Pine to Independence | ||
| 2003 CA / 2000 ORWA Guidebooks: | 45.4mi | 6775ft |
| 1995 CA / 1990 ORWA Guidebooks: | 45.4mi | 6775ft |
| difference: | 0.0mi | 0ft |
| Independence to Muir Trail Ranch | ||
| 2003 CA / 2000 ORWA Guidebooks: | 66.0mi | 10941ft |
| 1995 CA / 1990 ORWA Guidebooks: | 66.0mi | 10891ft |
| difference: | 0.0mi | 50ft |
| Muir Trail Ranch to Vermillion Valley Resort | ||
| 2003 CA / 2000 ORWA Guidebooks: | 21.0mi | 3950ft |
| 1995 CA / 1990 ORWA Guidebooks: | 20.9mi | 3950ft |
| difference: | 0.1mi | 0ft |
| Vermillion Valley Resort to Reds Meadow | ||
| 2003 CA / 2000 ORWA Guidebooks: | 29.4mi | 4484ft |
| 1995 CA / 1990 ORWA Guidebooks: | 29.4mi | 4484ft |
| difference: | 0.0mi | 0ft |
| Reds Meadow to Highway 108 (Sonora Pass) | ||
| 2003 CA / 2000 ORWA Guidebooks: | 111.7mi | 16876ft |
| 1995 CA / 1990 ORWA Guidebooks: | 111.7mi | 16876ft |
| difference: | 0.0mi | 0ft |
| Highway 108 (Sonora Pass) to Echo Lake Resort | ||
| 2003 CA / 2000 ORWA Guidebooks: | 76.2mi | 7655ft |
| 1995 CA / 1990 ORWA Guidebooks: | 76.2mi | 7635ft |
| difference: | 0.0mi | 20ft |
| Echo Lake Resort to Belden | ||
| 2003 CA / 2000 ORWA Guidebooks: | 194.7mi | 21782ft |
| 1995 CA / 1990 ORWA Guidebooks: | 193.7mi | 21482ft |
| difference: | 1.0mi | 300ft |
| Belden to Old Station | ||
| 2003 CA / 2000 ORWA Guidebooks: | 88.5mi | 10330ft |
| 1995 CA / 1990 ORWA Guidebooks: | 88.5mi | 10275ft |
| difference: | 0.0mi | 55ft |
| Old Station to Burney Falls SP | ||
| 2003 CA / 2000 ORWA Guidebooks: | 45.9mi | 1457ft |
| 1995 CA / 1990 ORWA Guidebooks: | 45.9mi | 1457ft |
| difference: | 0.0mi | 0ft |
| Burney Falls SP to Etna | ||
| 2003 CA / 2000 ORWA Guidebooks: | 182.7mi | 19144ft |
| 1995 CA / 1990 ORWA Guidebooks: | 182.7mi | 19144ft |
| difference: | 0.0mi | 0ft |
| Etna to Seiad Valley | ||
| 2003 CA / 2000 ORWA Guidebooks: | 55.8mi | 4165ft |
| 1995 CA / 1990 ORWA Guidebooks: | 55.8mi | 4165ft |
| difference: | 0.0mi | 0ft |
| Seiad Valley to Hyatt Lake Resort (aka Camper's Cove) | ||
| 2003 CA / 2000 ORWA Guidebooks: | 88.1mi | 12651ft |
| 1995 CA / 1990 ORWA Guidebooks: | 88.1mi | 12651ft |
| difference: | 0.0mi | 0ft |
| Hyatt Lake Resort (aka Camper's Cove) to Shelter Cove Resort | ||
| 2003 CA / 2000 ORWA Guidebooks: | 162.0mi | 13767ft |
| 1995 CA / 1990 ORWA Guidebooks: | 158.7mi | 13610ft |
| difference: | 3.3mi | 157ft |
| Shelter Cove Resort to Elk Lake Resort | ||
| 2003 CA / 2000 ORWA Guidebooks: | 46.1mi | 3501ft |
| 1995 CA / 1990 ORWA Guidebooks: | 45.5mi | 3501ft |
| difference: | 0.6mi | 0ft |
| Elk Lake Resort to Big Lake Youth Camp | ||
| 2003 CA / 2000 ORWA Guidebooks: | 42.6mi | 3660ft |
| 1995 CA / 1990 ORWA Guidebooks: | 42.4mi | 4650ft |
| difference: | 0.2mi | -990ft |
| Big Lake Youth Camp to Olallie Lake | ||
| 2003 CA / 2000 ORWA Guidebooks: | 52.2mi | 6170ft |
| 1995 CA / 1990 ORWA Guidebooks: | 52.2mi | 6170ft |
| difference: | 0.0mi | 0ft |
| Olallie Lake to Timberline Lodge | ||
| 2003 CA / 2000 ORWA Guidebooks: | 54.2mi | 4885ft |
| 1995 CA / 1990 ORWA Guidebooks: | 54.2mi | 4885ft |
| difference: | 0.0mi | 0ft |
| Timberline Lodge to Stehekin | ||
| 2003 CA / 2000 ORWA Guidebooks: | 466.8mi | 64457ft |
| 1995 CA / 1990 ORWA Guidebooks: | 468.3mi | 64142ft |
| difference: | -1.5mi | 315ft |
| Stehekin to Manning Park | ||
| 2003 CA / 2000 ORWA Guidebooks: | 89.4mi | 13353ft |
| 1995 CA / 1990 ORWA Guidebooks: | 86.6mi | 12723ft |
| difference: | 2.8mi | 630ft |
Current Program Data vs Halfmile's PCT Notes
(2003/2000 guidebooks vs Halfmile's Trail Notes)
| Guidebook | Trail Notes | |||
| From/To | Mile Point | Distance | Distance | Difference |
| US/Mexico Border to Lake Morena Campground | 20.6mi |
20.6mi | 20.0mi | -0.6 |
| Lake Morena Campground to Highway 8 | 26.0mi |
5.4mi | 6.6mi | 1.2 |
| Highway 8 to Mt. Laguna | 42.3mi |
16.3mi | 16.0mi | -0.3 |
| Mt. Laguna to Highway 78 | 77.6mi |
35.3mi | 34.7mi | -0.6 |
| Highway 78 to Highway 79 | 109.6mi |
32.0mi | 32.2mi | 0.2 |
| Highway 79 to Highway 74 | 151.3mi |
41.7mi | 42.4mi | 0.7 |
| Highway 74 to Idyllwild | 178.6mi |
27.3mi | 27.5mi | 0.2 |
| Idyllwild to Interstate 10 | 209.6mi |
31.0mi | 30.1mi | -0.9 |
| Interstate 10 to Ziggy and the Bear | 211.1mi |
1.5mi | 1.3mi | -0.2 |
| Ziggy and the Bear to Highway 18 | 274.1mi |
63.0mi | 55.2mi | -7.8 |
| Highway 18 to Highway 173 (south crossing) | 313.1mi |
39.0mi | 48.3mi | 9.3 |
| Highway 173 (south crossing) to Highway 138 (near I-15) | 328.6mi |
15.5mi | 14.7mi | -0.8 |
| Highway 138 (near I-15) to Interstate 15 | 342.1mi |
13.5mi | 13.0mi | -0.5 |
| Interstate 15 to Wrightwood | 363.6mi |
21.5mi | 21.5mi | -0 |
| Wrightwood to Acton | 444.2mi |
80.6mi | 80.7mi | 0.1 |
| Acton to Agua Dulce | 454.4mi |
10.2mi | 10.3mi | 0.1 |
| Agua Dulce to Green Valley/Andersons | 478.6mi |
24.2mi | 23.7mi | -0.5 |
| Green Valley/Andersons to Lake Hughes | 486.3mi |
7.7mi | 7.5mi | -0.2 |
| Lake Hughes to Highway 138 | 518.4mi |
32.1mi | 31.9mi | -0.2 |
| Highway 138 to Tehachapi | 558.3mi |
39.9mi | 40.9mi | 1 |
| Tehachapi to Highway 58 (California) | 566.6mi |
8.3mi | 8.0mi | -0.3 |
| Highway 58 (California) to Highway 178 (Walker Pass) | 652.0mi |
85.4mi | 85.5mi | 0.1 |
| Highway 178 (Walker Pass) to Kennedy Meadows Store | 702.8mi |
50.8mi | 50.2mi | -0.6 |
| Kennedy Meadows Store to Lone Pine | 744.8mi |
42.0mi | 43.1mi | 1.1 |
| Lone Pine to Independence | 790.2mi |
45.4mi | 43.6mi | -1.8 |
| Independence to Muir Trail Ranch | 856.2mi |
66.0mi | 68.8mi | 2.8 |
| Muir Trail Ranch to Vermillion Valley Resort | 877.2mi |
21.0mi | 21.0mi | 0 |
| Vermillion Valley Resort to Reds Meadow | 906.6mi |
29.4mi | 28.0mi | -1.4 |
| Reds Meadow to Highway 120 | 942.7mi |
36.1mi | 35.8mi | -0.3 |
| Highway 120 to Highway 108 (Sonora Pass) | 1,018.3mi |
75.6mi | 76.0mi | 0.4 |
| Highway 108 (Sonora Pass) to Highway 4 (Ebbets Pass) | 1,049.9mi |
31.6mi | 31.7mi | 0.1 |
| Highway 4 (Ebbets Pass) to Highway 50 | 1,093.0mi |
43.1mi | 42.7mi | -0.4 |
| Highway 50 to Echo Lake Resort | 1,094.5mi |
1.5mi | 1.6mi | 0.1 |
| Echo Lake Resort to Highway 40 | 1,155.8mi |
61.3mi | 61.1mi | -0.2 |
| Highway 40 to Interstate 80 | 1,158.8mi |
3.0mi | 3.4mi | 0.4 |
| Interstate 80 to Highway 49 | 1,197.6mi |
38.8mi | 38.5mi | -0.3 |
| Highway 49 to Quincy | 1,270.2mi |
72.6mi | 72.0mi | -0.6 |
| Quincy to Belden | 1,289.2mi |
19.0mi | 19.9mi | 0.9 |
| Belden to Highway 70 | 1,289.3mi |
0.1mi | 0.1mi | 0 |
| Highway 70 to Highway 36 | 1,335.8mi |
46.5mi | 45.6mi | -0.9 |
| Highway 36 to Drakesbad Guest Ranch | 1,353.3mi |
17.5mi | 18.5mi | 1 |
| Drakesbad Guest Ranch to Old Station | 1,377.7mi |
24.4mi | 24.2mi | -0.2 |
| Old Station to Highway 44 | 1,381.8mi |
4.1mi | 3.7mi | -0.4 |
| Highway 44 to Highway 299 | 1,415.9mi |
34.1mi | 34.2mi | 0.1 |
| Highway 299 to Highway 89 | 1,422.6mi |
6.7mi | 6.8mi | 0.1 |
| Highway 89 to Burney Falls SP | 1,423.6mi |
1.0mi | 1.0mi | 0 |
| Burney Falls SP to Interstate 5 (California) | 1,506.5mi |
82.9mi | 83.0mi | 0.1 |
| Interstate 5 (California) to Highway 3 | 1,566.2mi |
59.7mi | 59.8mi | 0.1 |
| Highway 3 to Highway 93 | 1,586.1mi |
19.9mi | 20.1mi | 0.2 |
| Highway 93 to Etna | 1,606.3mi |
20.2mi | 20.1mi | -0.1 |
| Etna to Seiad Valley | 1,662.1mi |
55.8mi | 55.5mi | -0.3 |
| Seiad Valley to Callahan's Lodge | 1,726.3mi |
64.2mi | 64.8mi | 0.6 |
| Callahan's Lodge to Interstate 5 (Oregon) | 1,726.6mi |
0.3mi | 0.2mi | -0.1 |
| Interstate 5 (Oregon) to Highway 66 | 1,743.9mi |
17.3mi | 16.6mi | -0.7 |
| Highway 66 to Hyatt Lake Resort (aka Camper's Cove) | 1,750.2mi |
6.3mi | 6.2mi | -0.1 |
| Hyatt Lake Resort (aka Camper's Cove) to Fish Lake Resort | 1,780.4mi |
30.2mi | 30.5mi | 0.3 |
| Fish Lake Resort to Highway 140 | 1,780.6mi |
0.2mi | 0.2mi | 0 |
| Highway 140 to Highway 62 | 1,830.4mi |
49.8mi | 48.8mi | -1 |
| Highway 62 to Highway 138 (Oregon) | 1,852.5mi |
22.1mi | 23.2mi | 1.1 |
| Highway 138 (Oregon) to Forest Road 60 | 1,882.9mi |
30.4mi | 31.5mi | 1.1 |
| Forest Road 60 to Shelter Cove Resort | 1,912.2mi |
29.3mi | 28.7mi | -0.6 |
| Shelter Cove Resort to Highway 58 (Oregon) | 1,914.0mi |
1.8mi | 1.3mi | -0.5 |
| Highway 58 (Oregon) to Elk Lake Resort | 1,958.3mi |
44.3mi | 45.1mi | 0.8 |
| Elk Lake Resort to Highway 242 | 1,989.5mi |
31.2mi | 30.4mi | -0.8 |
| Highway 242 to Big Lake Youth Camp | 2,000.9mi |
11.4mi | 11.8mi | 0.4 |
| Big Lake Youth Camp to Highway 20 (Oregon) | 2,006.9mi |
6.0mi | 6.1mi | 0.1 |
| Highway 20 (Oregon) to Olallie Lake | 2,053.1mi |
46.2mi | 46.2mi | 0 |
| Olallie Lake to Forest Road 57 | 2,083.4mi |
30.3mi | 29.4mi | -0.9 |
| Forest Road 57 to Forest Road 58 | 2,092.3mi |
8.9mi | 8.9mi | 0 |
| Forest Road 58 to Highway 26 | 2,097.3mi |
5.0mi | 5.0mi | 0 |
| Highway 26 to Highway 35 | 2,102.3mi |
5.0mi | 5.6mi | 0.6 |
| Highway 35 to Timberline Lodge | 2,107.3mi |
5.0mi | 5.2mi | 0.2 |
| Timberline Lodge to Interstate 84 | 2,155.1mi |
47.8mi | 47.1mi | -0.7 |
| Interstate 84 to Wind River Road | 2,189.1mi |
34.0mi | 33.3mi | -0.7 |
| Wind River Road to Road 23 | 2,237.9mi |
48.8mi | 49.2mi | 0.4 |
| Road 23 to Highway 12 | 2,302.8mi |
64.9mi | 65.5mi | 0.6 |
| Highway 12 to Highway 410 (Chinook Pass) | 2,332.3mi |
29.5mi | 29.0mi | -0.5 |
| Highway 410 (Chinook Pass) to Forest Road 52 (Tacoma Pass) | 2,372.5mi |
40.2mi | 40.9mi | 0.7 |
| Forest Road 52 (Tacoma Pass) to Interstate 90 | 2,401.8mi |
29.3mi | 29.1mi | -0.2 |
| Interstate 90 to Highway 2 | 2,476.3mi |
74.5mi | 74.0mi | -0.5 |
| Highway 2 to Stehekin | 2,574.1mi |
97.8mi | 104.2mi | 6.4 |
| Stehekin to Highway 20 (Rainy Pass) | 2,593.8mi |
19.7mi | 19.1mi | -0.6 |
| Highway 20 (Rainy Pass) to Hart's Pass | 2,624.3mi |
30.5mi | 0.0mi | -30.5 |
| Hart's Pass to Manning Park | 2,663.5mi |
39.2mi | 69.5mi | 30.3 |
| Totals: | 2,663.5mi | 2,668.8mi | 5.3mi | |